Artificial Intelligence

Today's national security leaders, industry and allies face a growing power competition between the United States, China and Russia where breakthrough technology will be more critical than ever. On June 27, 2019, leaders in government, military, industry and academia gathered at the 4th Annual Defense One Tech Summit to discuss emerging technologies and their likely impact on national security tactics and strategy.

Mexico has been labeled and praised as one of the countries that “has done well” because it implemented several reforms—some of which were both profound and transforming—in topics such as macroeconomic stability, antitrust, and energy, among others. In certain cases, the country implemented only gradual reforms and stakeholders opposed to the changes have not been affected. In spite of this, the effort did not translate into faster growth rates.

Most cyber attacks today do not occur instantaneously with the push of a button. They are resource and time-intensive endeavors (especially the reconnaissance phase), that are orchestrated by humans and unfold at human speeds; the time and resources needed by the adversary are directly proportional to the quality and level of defenses employed on the network.

Beijing’s campaign to squeeze Taiwan’s international space has shown no signs of letting down, and has actually been intensifying this year. The pressure has been particularly relentless on the economic front. A slew of Latin American nations have opted to pursue diplomatic relations with the PRC rather than the ROC, ostensibly for economic gain, while multinational corporations have been confronted with Beijing’s pressure to label Taiwan as part of the PRC.

Today's vehicles have effectively become computers on wheels: from navigation systems to infotainment to HMI (human-machine interface). To date, these technologies have helped to improve the overall experience of driving in many ways. But are security protocols being properly considered in implementing such technologies? Are these systems built to last in today's high-threat cyber environments? What is the mobility sector doing to secure transportation today and tomorrow? How do smart cities and government regulations impact these connected vehicles?

In this edition of Wilson CenterNOW, we explore the newly released spring issue of The Wilson Quarterly, “Living with Artificial Intelligence,” with the help of editor Richard Solash and contributor Eleonore Pauwels. They discuss how AI has the potential to reshape every aspect of life, from interpersonal to international relations.

To read the latest issue and for a free subscription to The Wilson Quarterly, visit wilsonquarterly.com.

At its core, artificial intelligence (AI) optimizes data. Machine-learning algorithms, one component of AI, are trained using massive datasets curated by humans to predict various aspects of our daily lives. Such predictive intelligence could be a positive force amplified by continued decentralization of the technology. Or, ubiquitous cognition and surveillance could be a disruptive force amplified by the unregulated proliferation of AI technologies.

The Wilson Center, chartered by Congress as the living memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum. In tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue, the Center informs actionable ideas for Congress, the administration, and the broader policy community.